Lina Lecaro
It seems Vans sneakers have always been cool. California cool. Born in 1976, the company’s “Era” design in particular, became the preferred shoe for surfers and skateboaders alike, bringing the brand a new level of recognition. The flat-soled lace-up kick became a classic in beach and punk style, and many signature designs followed. With Black Rainbows, a 10-day immersive experience featuring skate demos, panel discussions, film screenings and more in Venice Beach, the brand aims to transport fans back to the days when “Off the Wall” first became ubiquitous and the famed Dogtown board crew made the company a staple in the worlds of sports, art, music and street culture. Dogtown’s Jeff Ho along with Tony Alva were on hand this past weekend for the event kick-off which featured a performance by local legends Suicidal Tendencies. “Black rainbows” by the way, refer to the marks skateboards leave after a wall ride.
See vans.com/blackrainbows for the rest of the week’s programming, all taking place in Venice and Santa Monica.
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